Ellesmere Port Lighthouse

Ellesmere Port Lighthouse is a small brick beacon from 1881 in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, standing where the old canal docks once opened onto the Mersey estuary. It is a Grade II listed building and one of the best-known landmarks around the National Waterways Museum.

What is this lighthouse?

The tower is octagonal and tapers upward, with a lantern under a shaped octagonal cap. Its brickwork mixes red and blue brick. It stands about 36 feet (11 m) tall, and its light carried roughly 19 miles. The Historic England entry credits engineer G. R. Webb and dates it to 1881, though other sources put the commission at 1880. It replaced an earlier tower that served from about 1835. You will also see it called Whitby Lighthouse, after the Whitby entrance it guarded.

Why did the light go out?

The lamp guided ships from the Mersey into the docks at the end of the Shropshire Union Canal. When the Manchester Ship Canal opened in January 1894, traffic was redirected to a new entrance at Eastham Locks, a few miles downriver. The old entrance lost its purpose and the light was discontinued. The lighthouse was listed in 1971 and the entry amended in 1985.

What else is nearby?

The lighthouse sits beside the lower basin of the former canal port, laid out by Thomas Telford under William Jessop. The port worked commercially into the 1950s, then became a museum in the 1970s, first as the Boat Museum and now as the National Waterways Museum. Its collection of canal boats is among the largest in the world. Close to the lighthouse you can see the former harbour master's office, and within the museum grounds the listed locks and a lock keeper's hut.

How do you get there?

Ellesmere Port lies south of Liverpool on the Cheshire side of the Mersey. Trains run from Liverpool Central and Chester to Ellesmere Port station, followed by a short walk or ride to the docks. By car, follow signs for the National Waterways Museum, where parking is available. Check current museum opening hours before you go.

When should you visit?

Choose a dry, mild day for a stroll along the basin and the outdoor areas. The red-and-blue brick tower photographs well in late afternoon light.

Frequently asked questions

Is the lighthouse still in use? No. It went out of service in 1894, after the Manchester Ship Canal changed the layout of the port entrance.

Is it a listed building? Yes. It is Grade II listed, Historic England list entry 1130345.

Can you go inside? It is viewed from outside, from the dock area. Ask the museum about any interior access.

What should I combine it with? The National Waterways Museum on the same site, which covers the story of English canal transport.